Wilcox, Matute Guimon, and Irwin Score Accuhorsemat Accuracy Awards

Lisa Wilcox and Ace of Clubs

Lisa Wilcox and Ace of Clubs win The Accuhorsemat Accuracy Award

Wellington, FL (March 29, 2017) – International dressage competitors Lisa Wilcox of the United States, Juan Matute Guimon of Spain, and Tina Irwin of Canada each earned an Accuhorsemat Accuracy Award for their precise rides during the Adequan® Global Dressage Festival in Wellington, Florida. Representatives of Acuswede, the North American distributor of the innovative equine acupressure blanket Accuhorsemat, rewarded all three riders for their accurate dressage tests with a blue and gold ribbon, an Acuswedemat therapy mat for riders, and an Accuhorsemat sports pack. In addition, each winner was offered a complimentary Accuhorsemat therapy session for their horses to enjoy.

Olympian Lisa Wilcox earned the Accuhorsemat Accuracy Award as she took first place in Third Level with Ace of Clubs, owned by Jacqueline Shear of Marsh Pond Farm. Ace of Clubs is a seven-year-old American Warmblood gelding. “Jackie showed Ace in the young horse classes as a five-year-old,” Wilcox explained. “Third Level introduced changes to him, so that is new on our agenda. Jackie will take over the ride when we feel like he is more confirmed and confident in those.”

Wilcox was proud to be rewarded for her accurate riding. “Being so precise and accurate in all our tests is what the tests are about,” she said. “When we are schooling at home, that should be our goal. That’s why tests are choreographed the way they are, to test the horse’s ridability and submission, and correctness in the contact.”

Wilcox has trained extensively in Europe, and was a member of the 2004 Bronze medal-winning U.S. dressage team at the Olympic Games in Athens, Greece. Prior to that, she helped her team to the Silver medal at the FEI World Equestrian Games in 2002. She now continues to excel in the show ring with many mounts, and is based in South Florida.

One of Spain’s most successful young dressage riders today, Juan Matute Guimon, was recognized with the Accuhorsemat Accuracy Award for his stellar ride on Dhannie Ymas in the FEI Prix St. Georges at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival, scoring 70.368 percent. Matute Guimon has had the ride on the 10-year-old Hanoverian gelding (Don Crusador x Welina), owned by Yeguada de Ymas, for three years. In 2015, the emerging star partnered with Dhannie Ymas to win the Kur Gold Medal at the European Junior Riders Championships in Vidauban, France.

Matute Guimon was quick to credit his mount for his performance as he accepted the Accuhorsemat Accuracy Award. “Dhannie is a super horse; very talented, with a lot of potential.” Dhannie is treated regularly with acupuncture and chiropractic work, and Matute Guimon looks forward to their complimentary Accuhorsemat therapy session. “Primarily during the competition season is when he is treated the most,” he commented. “Any kind of treatment for the benefit of the horse is always nice and they appreciate it, and in the long run, we appreciate it as well because they are happy and that makes us all happy.”

Canadian Pan American Games Silver medalist Tina Irwin garnered the Accuhorsemat Accuracy Award with a score of 74.026 percent, riding Laurencio to first place in the FEI Prix St. George 2017 CDIO3*. Laurencio is a 10-year-old Oldenburg gelding (Laurentio x Pasadena) owned by Irwin. Remarkably, Irwin and Laurencio won 12 consecutive classes last show season – nine CDI’s and three more nationally. This past weekend, Irwin and Laurencio won not only the Accuhorsemat Accuracy Award but also placed first in all of their classes, helping Canada win the Stillpoint Farm FEI Nations Cup™ CDIO 3*.

Irwin praised Laurencio, who she bought from Germany as a four-year-old, saying, “I am proudest with the consistency I felt; he just flowed from one movement to the next. He has an unbelievable temperament, one that I have never known a horse to have. He’s a wonderful performer; he’s sensitive and hot, yet extremely sensible. He handles atmospheres well, and I think I could probably put one of my children on him because he is such a good boy. My hope is to move him up to Intermediare II and then to Grand Prix.”

Irwin’s closest competitor during her recent victories at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival was her husband, Jaimey Irwin, who placed just behind her to earn the reserve title. Irwin was excited to be able to share her prize of an Acuswedemat with her husband, as he has been experiencing some back pain. Acuswedemats, like their counterpart the Accuhorsemat for equine, can relieve pain and tension and prevent future muscle tension.

Originally developed in Sweden, Accuhorsemats and Acuswedemats are now gaining popularity throughout North America. Accuhorsemat, an equine acupressure blanket that reduces tension and soreness in horses, can be used before riding to relax muscles and increase circulation, and after riding to enhance muscle recovery and maintain mobility. Accuhorsemats and Acuswedemats can improve performance and overall health while significantly increasing blood flow and assisting in removing tension in connective tissue in both horse and rider. To learn more about Acuswede and the equine and human acupressure products that the company provides, please visit www.acuswede.com.